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P-3C Maritime Patrol Aircraft

The Maritime Self Defense Force examined the domestic antisubmarine patrol aircraft PX-L as the successor aircraft of P-2J, but in 1977 adopted the P-3C. Lockheed made one machine (serial #5001) which the JMSDF received on 29 April 1981, with a total of 3 aircraft arriving at the Atsugi base on 15 December 1981. After these three aircraft, license production began at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, with deliveries starting in 1982. The last of 101 aircraft (serial #5101 and the 98th license production aircraft) was delivered on 17 September 1997.

The on-board equipment and material was updated, with the 70th aircraft ( #5070) and later receiving Update III. From the 89th aircraft (#5089) received the satellite communications device (SATCOM) that provides the antenna fairing in the frontal body surface as relates to fuselage form. With the 100the aircaft (#5100) the new strategy data processor was introduced, and the form of the main blade tip antenna was changed.

In addition the defense devices for the SAM were introduced from 2003 (the ALE-47 chaff/the flare dispenser and the AAR-47 missile proximity warning device). As for the chaff/flare dispenser nose underside left and right and by the main wing underside of the main wing, as for the receiver of the missile proximity warning device nose radome left and right and it is installed respectively on left and right of the tail plane rear. In addition the satellite communications device of the frontal body surface (SATCOM) also the antenna fairing is miniaturized simultaneously.

The EP-3 electronic warfare data acquisition (ELINT) was introduced as the successor aircraft to the UP-2J (ELINT type). On the body surface after front and back two (2 aircraft because there is also a SATCOM antenna dome on the center, is visible in three), in the body frontal underside one, the large-sized radome was installed, and the posterior MAD boom was removed. The first aircraft (#9171) made its first flight on 25 October 1990, and was delivered on 06 March 1991, with 5 aircraft delivered on schedule by September 1998. Furthermore as for the #9172 being repaired by 2004, two the radome of all sizes (or the antenna fairing) was increased in the aft fuselage underside and form of the main blade tip was modified.

The UP-3C test & evaluation machine was introduced in just one aircraft (the #9151). Besides the fact that the big standard Pitot tube was installed on the nose right side surface, it is not different from usual P-3C appearance. It made its first flight on 10 November 1994, and was delivered in 1995 February.

Three UP-3D electronic warfare training supporting aircraft were introduced. On the body top and bottom aspect the large-sized air inlet is installed in rear of the large-sized radome of front and back at a time two and the radome of the body rear underside, and the posterior MAD boom was removed. The first aircraft (the #9161) made its firest flith on 07 November 1997, and was delivered on 05 March 1998. The second (the #9162) was delivered in February 1999, and the third (the #9163) on 01 February 2000. At this point license production of the P-3 air frame in Japan ended.

The OP-3C image information collection aircraft required remodelling five aircraft from the approximately 20 P-3C surplus aircraft which were a result of the reduction of two P-3C units which called for in in the new defense plan general principles. In order to load the sensors, besides the fact that the large-sized fairing was installed in the body frontal underside, the posterior MAD boom was removed, and the satellite communications device of the frontal body surface (SATCOM) the antenna fair ring is miniaturized. The first aircraft (the #5043, presently #9131) made its first flight on 19 September 2000, and was delivered on 01 March 2001. The second aircraft (#5069, presently #9132) made its first flight on 26 November 2003, and was delivered on 11 March 2004. The third aircraft (#5039, presently #9133) was delivered on 26 March 2005. Furthermore, from first new coating adornment of the extensive gray was administered to the #9133. Two more aircraft were funded in the 2002 budget.